[nfbmi-talk] Fw: Conflict of Interest Complaint

Sat Oct 19 12:25:44 UTC 2013

----- Original Message ----- 
From: joe harcz Comcast 
To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) 
Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2013 8:25 AM
Subject: Re: Conflict of Interest Complaint

October 19 2013 Response to BSBP 3 New Horizons

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

Attached after my signature line please find from the DTMB web site the BSBP's payments to New Horizons Rehabilitation Services during your tenure as Director. Now, simply as area Supervisor Ms. McNeal approves said expenditures of public money to this agency which she serves on the Board of Trustees. The conflicts of interests are plain upon their face for simply one cannot serve two masters.

By the way the fact that Ms. McNeal was approved to serve upon New Horizons board by her supervisor as you wrote in your response only implicates Mr. Jones in this affair for both in documented fashion have been known to steer clients of BSBP in to these CRPs like New Horizons, and, for that matter JVS.

In addition I am writing to request that you actually send me the Ethics Board opinion you referenced in your post in accessible format. Their database is not accessible to this user by the way and is one of many violations of the ADA that goes on in this state.

Regardless, I find the response non-responsive.

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

http://media.state.mi.us/MiTransparency/Vendor/Warrants?y=2013&v=NEW%20HORIZONS%20REHABILITATION%20SERVICES&a=641&g=Contractual%20Services%20Supplies%20and%20Materials&Column=WarrantDate&Direction=Descending

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

9/23/2013

$1,732.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

8/20/2013

$5,775.60

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

8/16/2013

$16,300.30

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

8/9/2013

$1,925.20

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

7/23/2013

$2,875.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

7/17/2013

$1,574.30

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

6/24/2013

$2,875.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

6/21/2013

$3,850.40

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/28/2013

$3,850.40

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/21/2013

$1,437.50

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/17/2013

$1,437.50

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

5/7/2013

$2,598.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

4/23/2013

$4,999.98

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

4/18/2013

$7,183.72

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

3/26/2013

$3,850.40

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

3/21/2013

$4,999.98

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/27/2013

$6,666.64

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/25/2013

$4,999.98

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/22/2013

$3,850.20

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

2/21/2013

$1,666.66

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

1/30/2013

$3,850.40

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

1/25/2013

$3,464.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

1/18/2013

$3,692.31

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

12/21/2012

$7,700.80

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

11/2/2012

$2,250.00

LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Contractual Services Supplies and Materials

10/16/2012

$2,250.00

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) 
  To: joe harcz Comcast (joeharcz at comcast.net) 
  Cc: Luzenski, Sue (LARA) 
  Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 2:31 PM
  Subject: Conflict of Interest Complaint

  Good afternoon Mr. Harcz,

  Mr. Michael Zimmer, Chief Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has asked me as the Director of the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) to respond to your recent conflict of interest complaint concerning BSBP employee Ms. Gwen McNeal. 

  I have investigated your allegations concerning Ms. Gwen McNeal.  During my investigation I discovered that these are not new allegations.  

  Our investigation of the conflict of interest allegation reveals that Gwen McNeal explained her voluntary service on the New Horizon Board in January, 2012.  On February 1, 2012 Pat Cannon, Director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) requested that Janet McClelland, Executive Secretary of the State Board of Ethics present his letter as a request for an Advisory Opinion of the Board.  

  Briefly the background is Ms.  McNeal was first appointed to the New Horizons Board in 2010 for a 1 year term.  She was reappointed in 2011 for a 2 year term with approval of her Supervisor.  Ms. McNeal is strictly a volunteer, receiving no compensation, and meets with the Board on her own time and does not directly supervise the 2 counselors who may interact with New Horizons.  

  Ms. Marie Lisle, Personnel Director of LARA became involved in this matter and eventually on July 9, 2012 Ms. McNeal signed a statement which was given to Marie Lisle.  The statement stated in pertinent part and was drafted by the Department.

  "You must recuse yourself from all votes on anything coming before the board related to financial interactions, contractual arrangements or programmatic services with the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) or the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, which will be created October 1, 2012."

  It is my understanding that the Board of Ethics found no conflict of interest in this situation. After reviewing this situation I don't believe this is a conflict of interest.  We have always encouraged our employees to be involved in any activity which is not in conflict with our official duties which does serve the blind community.  We've always had employees who were involved with NFB, the American Council and other worthwhile community groups.  

  Edward F. Rodgers II

  Director

  Bureau of Services for Blind Persons